Communication method and system for same

ABSTRACT

When emergency button (11) of mobile unit (1) of a person who has suddenly fallen ill or other emergency, locational signals representing its own location and ID data are transmitted to receiver (21) of management unit (2) installed in the caddie master&#39;s office or at other locations. Based on the locational signals from receiver (21), camera controller component (26) selects camera (27 1 )˜(27 n ), (27 c ) and controls panning and tilting of the selected camera, thereby adjusting its angle. Signals representing pictures taken by camera (27 1 )˜(27 n ), (27 c ) are received by visual image receiver component (28) and, together with vocal signals received from voice communication device (16) through voice communication device (24), transmitted from relay device (25) through a public circuit to visual image receiver component (32) and voice communication device (31) of remote unit (3). By operating the dial or push buttons of voice communication device (31), panning and tilting of camera (27 1 )˜(27 n ), (27 c ) are controlled in order to adjust its angle, and vocal signals are transmitted from voice communication device (31) to mobile unit (1).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a method and system for communication of dataincluding visual images taken by an imaging device.

Conventionally, various systems for remotely controlling an imagingdevice in its focusing and imaging functions such as panning andtilting, and transmitting pictures obtained by said remote controlthrough a communication means are widely known.

Also known to those skilled in the art are a system disclosed inJapanese Patent Laying-open No. 191133/1988 which calls for transmittingsignals from a transmitting means attached to a subject to bephotographed and taking photographs of this subject upon receiving thesesignals using a receiving means; another disclosed in Japanese UtilityModel Laying-open No. 117625/1989 which calls for taking visual imagesof a subject by means of receiving signals transmitted from atransmitting means attached to the subject and causing an imaging deviceto follow the direction of the strongest signal, and another disclosedin Japanese Patent Laying-open No. 134351/1981 which calls for followinga subject using a transmitting means attached to the subject and,shooting for a specified period of time.

However, the aforementioned system which controls performance of animaging device by remote control is capable of receiving visual datasignals only by manually changing the settings of the imaging device,and the configurations according to Japanese Patent Laying-open No.191133/1988 and Japanese Utility Model Laying-open No. 117625/1989merely call for causing an imaging device to follow a subject to takevisual images thereof. Therefore, none is capable of fully utilizing thepictures taken.

Further, in case of an emergency, for example, if conditions of apatient or his situation can be visually presented, it would help adoctor, who may be at a hospital or another remotely located facility inmaking an appropriate decision that might save the patient's life. Forsuch a reason, there exists a need for a system which is capable ofeasily transmitting visual images of a specific subject to the doctor insuch a case as above.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to solve the problems in the prior art, an object of theinvention is to provide a communication method and system fortransmitting visual images which have been taken by an imaging deviceand sent by a sender to the receiving party through a relay station.

A method according to the invention calls for transmitting signalsrepresenting the voice of a sender; receiving the vocal signals from thesender at a relay station; controlling imaging functions of an imagingdevice to take pictures of the sender; transmitting the vocal signalsfrom the sender together with the visual images of same, which have beentaken by the imaging device, from the relay station to a receivingparty; and transmitting vocal signals of the receiving party through therelay station to the sender. Therefore, as the invention is capable oftransmitting visual images of the sender to the receiving party throughthe relay station and allowing 2-way voice communications between thesender and the receiving party through the relay station, the receivingparty is able to easily obtain visual images of the sender, and bothparties can easily communicate with each other.

According to another feature thereof, the invention calls fortransmitting data for the location of the sender so that the locationaldata is received and used to control the performance of the imagingdevice. Therefore, according to the invention, it is easy to know thelocation of the sender of the signals and take his picture with animaging device.

According to yet another feature of the invention, the receiving partycontrols the direction in which the imaging device is pointed.Therefore, it is easy for the receiving party to obtain desiredpictures.

According to yet another feature of the invention, physical conditionsof a subject are monitored; and the relay station transmits the data ofhis physical conditions to the receiving party together with hispictures taken by the imaging device. With the configuration as above,the receiving party is able to easily obtain data of physical conditionsof the subject and, therefore, is ensured of knowing the subject'sconditions with visual images of same.

According to yet another feature thereof, the invention calls forstoring data of normal conditions of a subject; and transmitting thenormal condition data together with the aforementioned data of hisphysical conditions to the receiving party. With the configuration asabove, the receiving party is able to assess the physical conditions ofthe subject referring to his normal conditions, thereby more reliablyjudging his current condition.

Furthermore, according to yet another feature of the invention, theinvention is provided with one or more mobile units, each of which has amobile unit transmitting/receiving means for transmitting and receivingvocal signals; a remote unit which has a remote unittransmitting/receiving means for transmitting and receiving vocalsignals as well as receiving visual signals, the remote unit also havingan image display means for displaying visual images; one or more imagingdevices; and a management unit which has an imaging device controllingmeans for controlling the imaging function of the picture-takingdevices, and a relay means for relaying communication between theaforementioned mobile unit transmitting/receiving means and remote unittransmitting/receiving means. With the configuration as above, theremote is capable of receiving signals representing visual images of asubject taken by imaging devices, and voice communication is possiblebetween the remote unit and the mobile unit.

According to yet another feature of the invention, the remote unit isprovided with picture-taking directing means for directing the manner ofperformance of the imaging devices. With the configuration as above,which permits the remote unit to easily direct how pictures of a subjectare to be taken, it is easy for the user of the remote unit to obtaindesired pictures.

According to yet another feature thereof, the invention is provided witha physical condition monitoring means for monitoring the physicalcondition of a subject; and the mobile unit transmitting/receiving meansof each mobile unit is capable of transmitting the physical conditiondata through the relay station to the remote unit transmitting/receivingmeans. With the configuration as above, the user of the remote unit isable to easily obtain data concerning the physical condition of thesubject and, therefore, is ensured of knowing the subject's conditionwith visual images of same.

According to yet another feature thereof, the invention is provided witha physical condition storage means for storing data of normal conditionof a subject; and a relay means to transmit the normal condition datatogether with the aforementioned data of his physical condition to theremote unit transmitting/receiving means. With the configuration asabove, the user of the remote unit is able to assess the physicalcondition of the subject in the context of his normal condition, therebymore reliably judging his current condition.

According to yet another feature thereof, the invention is provided withan image composite means for combining visual images of a subject takenby an imaging device with data of his physical condition which has beenmonitored by the physical condition monitoring means. With theconfiguration as above, it is easy for the user of the remote unit toknow the status of the subject and data of his physical condition by wayof looking at the pictures.

According to yet another feature of the invention, each mobile unit isprovided with an extracting means to extract data for its own location;the mobile unit transmitting/receiving means transmits the locationalinformation extracted by the extracting means to the relay means; themanagement unit is provided with a receiving means to receive saidlocational information from the mobile unit; and the imaging devicecontrolling means controls performance of the imaging devices based onthe locational information received as above. With the configuration asabove, it is easy to know the location of the sender and selectivelycontrol the appropriate imaging devices with the imaging devicecontrolling means.

The above, and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following description read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like referencenumerals designate the same elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a communication system accordingto an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of a mobile unit of a communication systemaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory drawing of disposition of imaging device of acommunication system according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory drawing to show how an imaging device placed ona cart, is used;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating the extraction of a location bymeans of a plurality of receiving devices of a communication systemaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory drawing to further illustrate the principletriangulation range finding during the location extraction illustratedin FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory drawing to illustrate range finding by animaging device;

FIG. 8 is an explanatory drawing illustrating a properly framed subject;

FIG. 9 is an explanatory drawing to illustrate the relationship betweenthe distance and zooming with said imaging device;

FIG. 10 is an explanatory drawing to illustrate the principle oflocation detection by means of GPS;

FIG. 11 is an explanatory drawing to illustrate a golf course dividedinto cells;

FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a communication system accordingto another embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating a communication system accordingto yet another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Next, a communication system according to an embodiment of the presentinvention is explained hereunder, referring to the drawings, where thecommunication system is utilized on a golf course.

Referring to FIG. 1, numeral 1 denotes a mobile unit which is in thepossession of each player or caddie. Each mobile unit 1 is capable ofcommunicating through a wireless means, such as radio waves, withmanagement unit 2, which is installed in a clubhouse and serves as arelay station. Through ISDN or public lines, such as a general telephoneline, or wireless means, management unit 2 is capable of communicatingwith a remote unit 3 installed in such facilities as a hospital.

As shown in FIG. 2, mobile unit 1 is provided with a liquid crystaldisplay 5 to display guidance and other information, a ten-key pad 6 toinput scores and so forth, a function display key 7 to display variousfunctions to be performed, a select/execute key 8 and scroll keys 9, aswell as a light pen 10 attached to the mobile unit and an emergencybutton 11 located on the topside of the unit. And as shown in FIG. 1,mobile unit 1 is provided with a transmitter 15 and a voicecommunication device 16. Transmitter 15, provided with its ownidentification number, which may be, for example, the personalidentification number of the player in possession of the mobile unit 1,and transmits signals revealing its location together with itsidentification, and as appropriate, notification of an emergency. Mobileunit 1 is also provided with voice communication device 16 having voicecommunication capability. In addition to the above mentioned functions,mobile unit 1 is also capable of performing such functions as scoretabulation, detecting its own location, guidance display, settlingaccounts and so forth.

Referring again to FIG. 1, management unit 2 is provided with a receiver21 which receives signals from transmitter 15 of mobile unit 1 eitherdirectly or by way of antennae disposed at appropriate locations, and acontroller component 22 which executes control commands based oninformation received from receiver 21. Further, controller component 22is connected to transmitter 23 which activates voice communicationdevice 16 of a mobile unit 1. In addition, controller component 22 isprovided with voice communication device 24 which allows voicecommunication with voice communication device 16 of mobile unit 1 tooccur after voice communication device 16 is activated. Controllercomponent 22 is also connected to a camera controller component 26,which issues commands pertaining to the selection, direction, angle, andwhen the situation demands, the distance, of each respective imagingdevices 27₁ ˜27_(n), 27_(c). Further, signals representing visual imagesfrom any one of imaging devices 27₁ ˜27_(n), 27_(c) are received byvisual image receiver component 28, with visual image receiver component28 and voice communication device 24 being connected to a relay device25.

Remote unit 3 is provided with a voice communication device 31, whichmay be a telephone or the like, and a visual image receiver component 32which may be a monitor. Voice communication device 31 and visual imagereceiver component 32 are connected to relay device 25 of managementunit 2 by such means as the aforementioned public transmission lines.

As shown in FIG. 3, imaging devices 27₁ to 27_(n) are placed around theperimeter of each hole. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, an on-vehicleimaging device 27_(c) may be placed atop a golf cart 29, in which caseon-vehicle receiver 30 which receives control signals from cameracontroller component 26 is also placed atop a golf cart 29, imagingdevice 27_(c) being driven by on-vehicle receiver 30. Each imagingdevice 27₁ ˜27_(n), 27_(c) is respectively provided with mechanisms toperform panning, tilting, as well as zooming, and may also be providedwith auto-focus capability.

Selection of imaging devices 27₁ ˜27_(n), 27_(c) as well as control ofpanning, tilting and zooming of the selected imaging devices 27_(i) isperformed by imaging device controller component 26. However, on-vehiclecamera 27_(c) need not be among any of said imaging devices 27_(i).Further, in cases where imaging devices are to be automaticallyselected, an imaging device 27₁ ˜27_(n), 27_(c) nearest the subject tobe imaged, for example, can be selected.

As shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of relay devices 17₁ ˜17_(n) anddirection determining components 33₁ ˜33_(n) may be provided, relaydevices 17₁ ˜17_(n) being respectively provided with directionalantennae and corresponding to said direction determining components 33₁˜33_(n) so that the location of transmitter 15 may be detected by alocation computing component 34 based on the direction determined bythese direction determining components 33₁ ˜33_(n). As to a number ofrelay devices 17₁ ˜17_(n), at least two devices are needed to determinea direction and a distance by using the principle of triangulation.

Next, referring to FIG. 10, another embodiment of the present inventionis explained hereunder, said embodiment calling for detecting a locationby means of mobile unit 1 itself and transmitting signals including thedata for the location thus detected.

In this case, the direction and distance to mobile unit 1 from any ofimaging devices 27₁ ˜27_(n), 27_(c) can be determined by means of, forexample, providing each hole with a plurality of antennae 41 whichtransmit reference radio waves; or as a second example providing mobileunit 1 with a navigation function such as GPS (Global PositioningSystem) which uses reference radio waves from a plurality of satellites42. In these examples, mobile unit 1 converts the vectorial informationof its location relative to each of reference antennae 41 or satellites42, or a combination thereof, into location in terms of coordinates,such as latitude and longitude. Consequently, the direction and distanceto mobile unit 1 from any one of imaging devices 27₁ ˜27_(n), 27_(c) canbe computed from the absolute coordinate locations of mobile unit 1 andthe imaging device.

As shown in FIG. 11, the terrain of a hole or the entire course may bedivided into cells in a matrix, each cell having its own ID number, sothat the location of mobile unit 1 may be represented by a cell number.In cases where this cell system is applied, data of the respectivedirections and distances to the cells with respect to each imagingdevice 27₁ ˜27_(n), 27_(c) may be stored beforehand so that theappropriate imaging device 27₁ ˜27_(n), 27_(c) can be selected andcontrolled by directly using said data. Furthermore, the most suitableimaging device 27₁ ˜27_(n), 27_(c) to be used for each cell may beincluded in the cell data to be stored. Cells are formed by dividing theentire course of the terrain from the tee ground to the green of eachhole into small areas in a matrix which measures, for example, 3 meterson a side.

Operation of the above embodiments is described hereunder.

In case of an emergency such as when a player is seriously injured orcollapses, by operation of emergency button 11 of mobile unit 1 by theplayer himself or a person accompanying him, mobile unit 1 transmits anemergency signal as well as a locational signal indicating its ownlocation, as determined by the location determining component describedfor FIG. 10, above together with its ID data to receiver 21 ofmanagement unit 2.

Alternatively, the system may be configured such that the location ofmobile unit 1 is computed by location computing component 34 shown inFIG. 5 and that signals including the locational signal indicating thelocation computed by this location computing component 34 are receivedby receiver 21. In this case, the location is determined based on signalreceiving conditions of the plurality of relay devices 17₁ ˜17_(n). Inother words, as distance l between two relay devices 17₁ and 17₂ isconstant as shown in FIG. 6, the location of transmitter 15 thattransmitted the signals is determined by location computing component 34by ascertaining the respective directions to transmitter 15 from relaydevices 17₁ and 17₂, and the signals which include the locational signalindicating the current location of the specific transmitter 15 aretransmitted to receiver 21.

As a result, according to the ID data included in the signals receivedby receiver 21, controller component 22 controls transmitter 23 to sendsignals to activate voice communication device 16 of mobile unit 1,thereby allowing voice communication between voice communication devices16 and 24. A number of communication channels during normalcircumstances can be reduced by preventing voice communication device 16from being activated under normal circumstances and granting voicecommunication to only a specific mobile unit 1 in case of an emergency.

Based on the locational signal of receiver 21, camera controllercomponent 26 of controller component 22 is controlled so that imagingdevice controller component 26 selects the most suitable camera 27₁˜27_(n), 27_(c) according to the criteria set beforehand. Panning andtilting of imaging device 27₁ ˜27_(n), 27_(c) selected by cameracontroller component 26 is controlled in order to adjust the angle ofits view.

Selected imaging device 27₁ ˜27_(n), 27_(c) determines the distance tothe subject through control by camera controller component 26 or byautomatic focusing using components incorporated in the camera itself,such as light emitting elements and photo-electric elements or, as shownin FIG. 7, an ultrasonic transmitter 27e and ultrasonic receiver 27r,with automatic focusing being performed by emitting light or signalsfrom the light emitting elements or ultrasonic transmitter 27e andcomputing the distance to the subject based on the length of time fromwhen the light or the signals are emitted to when they are received bythe photo-electric elements or ultrasonic receiver 27r.

At this time, imaging device 27₁ ˜27_(n), 27_(c) is zoomed so that theproportion of the image of the subject in relation to the size of theframe is constant as shown in FIG. 8. In other words, when the distancefrom imaging device 27₁ ˜27_(n) or 27_(c) to the subject is L, theheight of the subject M, the focal length of the lens of the camera F,and the length of the image of the subject in the frame K as shown inFIG. 9, K is approximately equal to F×M/L, if value L is sufficientlylarge. Therefore, granting that M is the average height of an adult andconstant, K can be made constant by changing focal length F according todistance L to transmitter 15 which has been measured.

The signals representing visual images of the person who is injured orill, these pictures being taken by imaging devices 27₁ ˜27_(n), 27_(c),are received by visual image receiver component 28. The visual signalsand vocal signals, which have been received from voice communicationdevice 16 through voice communication device 24, are transmitted byrelay device 25 through public lines respectively to visual imagereceiver component 32 and voice communication device 31 of remote unit3.

Further, where a doctor or other person using remote unit 3 wantsspecific pictures, the system may have such a configuration as to permithim to operate a dial or buttons or the like on voice communicationdevice 31 to transmit DTMF signals through relay device 25 to theimaging device controller component 26 so that camera 27₁ ˜27_(n),27_(c) is selected and controlled to perform zooming, panning andtilting. This can be done by a setting such that, for example, pushing 2causes upward tilting; pushing 8 downward tilting; pushing 4 panning toleft; pushing 6 panning to right; pushing 1 zooming up; pushing 7zooming down; and pushing * and the ID number of the desired camera whenchanging cameras.

The configuration as above facilitates looking at visual images of thepatient on the course in favorable conditions by means of remote unit 3installed in a hospital or the like and also provides communication withmobile unit 1 through telephone or other means which serves as voicecommunication device 31. As the invention thus makes it possible to knowthe conditions of the patient and give necessary directions fortreatment of the patient and so forth, it has a merit in improving theeffect of first aid treatment.

Further, as management unit 2 at a clubhouse can be connected to remoteunit 3 at a hospital through public lines, installation of a systemaccording to the invention is relatively easy.

Next, another embodiment is explained hereunder, referring to FIG. 12.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 12 is a simpler version of the embodimentshown in FIG. 1 and does not have receiver 23 of management unit 2. Inthis embodiment, communication between voice communication device 16 ofmobile unit 1 and voice communication device 24 of management unit 2 isactivated by operating emergency button 11.

Omitting receiver 23 makes necessary an increased number of channels inorder to avoid radio interference. On the other hand, it is advantageousin providing immediate communication.

Next, yet another embodiment is explained hereunder, referring to FIG.13.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 13 has the same configuration as theembodiment shown in FIG. 12 except that it is capable of monitoringvarious physical conditions. Furthermore, a system having theconfiguration as the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 may also have a means ofmonitoring physical conditions.

According to the configuration of the embodiment, transmitter 15 ofmobile unit 1 is capable of being connected to a monitoring instrument51 for various physical conditions, such as body temperature, pulse,blood pressure and so on, through a wire circuit or wireless means.

Said monitoring instrument 51 may be of various types: for example, aconstantly-worn type to be worn all the time, which may be in the shapesimilar to a wrist watch and measures body temperature, blood pressure,pulse and so on from the temperature of the surface of the body andblood vessels around the wrist by means of a thermometer, a pressuregauge, an infrared sensor or the like; an in-contact-when-necessary typeto be brought into contact with a part of body, such as inside the mouthor an arm, to measure body temperature, blood pressure, pulse and so onby means of a thermometer, a pressure gauge, an infrared sensor or thelike whenever necessary; and a fixed-installation type installed at afixed location such as at a rest area in a clubhouse or a shop on thegrounds of the course. Said fixed-installation type may have theconfiguration which calls for inputting the ID date of the user throughhis mobile unit 1 or other means, and setting a part of the user's body,such as an arm, on the equipment to obtain information of his physicalcondition. In cases where the constantly-worn type or thein-contact-when-necessary type is used, data of body conditions isdetected near the user's mobile unit 1. Therefore, the data may be inputinto mobile unit 1 by connecting it to monitoring instrument 51 or,because they are at close range, through weak radio waves. In case ofthe fixed-installation type, data may be directly input to managementunit 2 without going through mobile unit 1.

Furthermore, mobile unit 1 is provided with a receiver 52 for receivingsignals which inform of abnormal physical conditions. Upon receivingsuch warning signals from management unit 2, receiver 52 gives warningby voice or sounding alarm, as well as displaying a message, such as"Body temperature is rising, presenting danger of heat stroke: Drinkfluids and rest in a cool place", "Blood pressure above normal range:Stop game and return to clubhouse", "Irregular pulse: Stop gametemporarily and rest at the nearest rest area for at least 30 minutes"or the like on liquid crystal display 5.

Management unit 2 is provided with a physical condition storagecomponent 53 for storing data of physical condition monitored bymonitoring instrument 51 and transmitted from mobile unit 1, physicalcondition storage component 53 storing transmitted data in the order ofelapsed time from prior to starting the game and thereafter. Physicalcondition storage component 53 is also connected to relay device 25.

Physical condition storage component 53 is also connected to ajudgingcomponent 54 which judges whether abnormal physical conditions are beingexperienced by comparing current conditions with those stored inphysical condition storage component 53. Further, judging component 54is connected to a transmitter 55, which transmits warning signals toreceiver 52 of mobile unit 1 when physical conditions of the subject isjudged to be abnormal.

Remote unit 3 is provided with a physical condition display component 55which has image composite function and is capable of generatingcomposite images representing physical conditions of a patient on thedisplay.

Next, operation of the above embodiments shown in FIG. 13 is describedhereunder.

Its operational procedure is basically the same as that of theembodiment shown in FIG. 12.

First of all, store data of normal conditions of each player in physicalcondition storage component 53 beforehand by inputting it using keyboard6 or assessing his physical conditions prior to starting the game bymeans of monitoring instrument 51.

Then, during the game, check physical condition at regular intervals orwhenever desired by means of monitoring instrument 51. The data of thisassessment is stored in physical condition storage component 53 in theorder of elapsed time and also compared by judging component 54 with thedata of the normal condition or the data of the condition beforestarting the game, which is also stored in physical condition storagecomponent 53. In cases where any abnormal condition is detected in thisjudgement step, judging component 54 causes transmitter 55 to send outwarning signals. When the warning signals have been transmitted,receiver 52 sounds an alarm and displays an appropriate message, such asthose described above, on liquid crystal display 5.

When emergency button 11 is activated, in addition to sound signals andvisual signals of pictures taken by one of imaging devices 27₁ ˜27_(n),27_(c), data of physical conditions of the subject stored in physicalcondition storage component 53 is transmitted through relay device 25 toremote unit 3.

In remote unit 3, the physical condition data stored in physicalcondition storage component 53 is combined with pictures taken byimaging device 27₁ ˜27_(n), 27_(c) and displayed in the form ofcomposite image. Physical condition data to be displayed includes dataof normal condition, physical condition before starting the game andthose obtained by assessment after starting the game, as well as thecurrent condition. As these physical conditions are displayed in theorder of elapsed time, with the changes of physical condition and thecurrent state being thus presented, the changes in the condition of thepatient can be reliably known.

Furthermore, the patient's chronic illness, allergies, currentmedication and other data may be stored in physical condition storagecomponent 53 beforehand using ten-key pad 6 of mobile unit 1 or othermeans.

As it is possible to know about the physical condition of the person whohas been injured or fallen ill, following the flow of time and in realtime according to this embodiment shown in FIG. 13, the embodimentensures of giving appropriate care in an emergency and effectiveearly-stage treatment.

Furthermore, the term "sender" referred to in the above explanation andappended claims, whose pictures are being taken, is not limited to theperson who actually sends signals; it may also mean the injured or thesick person, who is at a location near the actual sender and whosephysical conditions are monitored.

Having described preferred embodiments of the invention with referenceto the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the inventionis not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various changesand modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the artwithout departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as definedin the appended claims.

I claim:
 1. A communication method comprising the steps of:transmittingsignals from a sender by means of a mobile unit carried by said sender,said signals having a vocal and an informational component; receivingsaid signals from said sender at a relay station; selecting a selectedimaging device from a plurality of imaging devices located at variouspositions of an area; obtaining a visual image of said sender, saidobtaining a visual image including controlling a plurality of imagingfunctions of said selected imaging device; transmitting further signalsfrom said sender together with said visual image from said relay stationto a receiving party; and transmitting vocal signals of said receivingparty through said relay station to said sender responsively to at leastone of said further signals and said visual image.
 2. The communicationmethod of claim 1, wherein:said informational component includeslocational data for said sender's location; said selecting a selectedimaging device is responsive to said locational data; and saidcontrolling said plurality of imaging functions of said imaging deviceis responsive to said locational data.
 3. The communication method ofclaim 2, wherein:said selecting a selected imaging device includes oneof automatically selecting at said relay station and manually selectingby said receiving party; and said controlling said plurality of imagingfunctions includes one of automatically controlling at said relaystation and manually controlling by said receiving party.
 4. Thecommunication method of claim 3, wherein said transmitting saidinformational component of said signals from said sender includestransmitting a physical condition datum of a subject.
 5. Thecommunication method of claim 4, wherein said transmitting a physicalcondition datum includes the steps of:monitoring a physical condition ofsaid subject to produce a present physical condition datum; providing astored normal physical condition datum of said subject; andcorrelatively transmitting said stored normal physical condition datumand said present physical condition datum.
 6. A communication systemcomprising:at least one imaging device; at least one mobile unit havingmeans for transmitting and receiving vocal and informational signals; atleast one remote unit having means for transmitting and receiving saidvocal and informational signals; said at least one remote unit havingmeans for receiving visual signals said at least one remote unit havingmeans for displaying visual images responsively to said visual signals;a management unit having means for individually controlling imagingfunctions of each of said at least one imaging device; said managementunit having a means for relaying said vocal, said visual, and saidinformational signals between each said at least one mobile unit meansfor transmitting and receiving and each said at least one remote unitmeans for transmitting and receiving; and said management unit havingmeans for concurrently receiving said visual signals from said at leastone imaging device with said signals from said at least one mobile unit,and concurrently transmitting said visual signals from said at least oneimaging device with said signals from said at least one mobile unit tosaid at least one remote unit.
 7. The communication system of claim 6,wherein said at least one remote unit has an override means forindividually controlling imaging functions of each of said at least oneimaging device.
 8. The communication system of claim 7, furthercomprising:means for monitoring a physical condition of a subject, saidmeans for monitoring having physical condition output data; means forsending said physical condition output data to said mobile unit; andsaid informational signals including said physical condition outputdata.
 9. The communication system of claim 8, further comprising:meansfor storing data of a normal physical condition of said subject; andmeans for combining said normal physical condition data of said subjectand said physical condition output data of said subject to formcomposite physical condition data; said informational signals includingsaid composite physical condition data.
 10. The communication system ofclaim 9, further comprising:means for combining visual images of saidsubject taken by said at least one imaging device with said output dataof said subject's means for monitoring physical condition.
 11. Thecommunication system of claim 6, further comprising:means for locatingsaid at least one mobile unit; means for extracting locational data fromsaid means for locating; means for sending said locational dataextracted by said means for extracting to said management unit; saidmanagement unit having means for selecting said at least one imagingdevice responsive to said locational information received from saidmeans for locating; and said means for individually controlling controlssaid at least one imaging device selected by said means for selectingresponsively to said locational information received from said means forlocating.
 12. The communication system of claim 7, furthercomprising:means for locating said at least one mobile unit; means forextracting locational data from said means for locating; means forsending said locational data extracted by said means for extracting tosaid management unit; said management unit having means for selectingsaid at least one imaging device responsive to said locationalinformation received from said means for locating; and said means forindividually controlling controls said at least one imaging deviceselected by said means for selecting responsively to said locationalinformation received from said means for locating.
 13. The communicationsystem of claim 8, further comprising:means for locating said at leastone mobile unit; means for extracting locational data from said meansfor locating; means for sending said locational data extracted by saidmeans for extracting to said management unit; said management unithaving means for selecting said at least one imaging device responsiveto said locational information received from said means for locating;and said means for individually controlling controls said at least oneimaging device selected by said means for selecting responsively to saidlocational information received from said means for locating.
 14. Thecommunication system of claim 9, further comprising:means for locatingsaid at least one mobile unit; means for extracting locational data fromsaid means for locating; means for sending said locational dataextracted by said means for extracting to said management unit; saidmanagement unit having means for selecting said at least one imagingdevice responsive to said locational information received from saidmeans for locating; and said means for individually controlling controlssaid at least one imaging device selected by said means for selectingresponsively to said locational information received from said means forlocating.
 15. The communication system of claim 10, furthercomprising:means for locating said at least one mobile unit; means forextracting locational data from said means for locating; means forsending said locational data extracted by said means for extracting tosaid management unit; said management unit having means for selectingsaid at least one imaging device responsive to said locationalinformation received from said means for locating; and said means forindividually controlling controls said at least one imaging deviceselected by said means for selecting responsively to said locationalinformation received from said means for locating.